Variant
List:A6M1 Prototype with Mitsubishi MK2 Zuisei Radial
Engine (780-hp). First flown on April 1, 1939. While an excellent performer, it
failed to meet the top speed requirement set down in the Navies specifications.

A6M2 A follow-up prototype to the A6M1
equipped with the Nakajima NK1C Sakae Engine (925-hp), flying for the first
time in January 1940. This new configuration was so successful that in July
1940, Mitsubishi was awarded a contract to build 15 pre-production versions for
evaluation in China. These trials led to the type being ordered into production
at the end of July 1940, designated the Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter Model 11
(A6M2 Model 11. There were three sub-variants built; The A6M2 Model 21
eqipped with manually folded wingtips and the A6M2-K two-set trainer. The
A6M2-N was a floatplane
variant built by Nakajima (327 being built).

A6M5 Model 52 was the major production
version, introduced in 1943. Primarily designed to counter the increasingly
capable Allied fighters and had several sub-variants incluuding the A6M5a,
A6m5b and A6m5c which carried various armament configurations. The A6M5d-S was
designed as a night fighter with a 20mm cannon mounted obliquely behind the
cockpit, in the rear fuselage. The A6M5-K was a two-seat trainer

A6M6c Model 53c was a re-engined version of
the A6M5c put into production in late 1944.

A6M7 Model 63 was developed as a fighter/bomber
with a rack that could accomodate a single 250-kg (551-lb) bomb. This variant
was built from mid-1945 onward.

A6M8c Model
64c was the final variant but only two examples were built. The war
ended before this variant could reach production.